A long-running proposal for a large sand and gravel quarry near Barton-in-Fabis is expected to reach a decision on 16 December, when Nottinghamshire County Council is due to determine the application.
The quarry plans were first mooted in 2021, when the site at Mill Hill, off Green Street and Chestnut Lane, was promoted for mineral extraction as part of the county’s minerals planning process. Since then, the proposal has undergone several rounds of consultation, revisions and technical assessments before a formal planning application was submitted and validated.
The site lies within the Nottinghamshire Green Belt and close to the village, public footpaths and the wider Trent Valley landscape.
What is proposed
The application seeks permission to extract and process sand and gravel over a period of around 10 to 12 years, with the developer estimating that approximately 2.5 million tonnes of material could be removed.
The scheme includes quarry workings, processing plant, access arrangements and progressive restoration. Once extraction is complete, the land would be restored in phases, with proposed wetlands, new habitats, permissive paths and biodiversity enhancements.
Council objections
Rushcliffe Borough Council has consistently objected to the scheme, arguing that it represents inappropriate development in the Green Belt and would cause unacceptable harm to the character of the countryside.
The borough has raised concerns about:
• landscape and visual impact
• noise and dust
• air quality and potential health risks
• disruption to residents and rural roads
• effects on ecology and nearby sensitive habitats
Rushcliffe has also questioned whether the benefits of mineral extraction outweigh the environmental and community impacts, given the site’s location.
If permission were to be granted, the borough has said it should only be subject to strict and enforceable conditionscovering hours of operation, dust suppression, noise limits, HGV movements, lighting controls, ecological protection and long-term restoration monitoring.
Community groups, parish councils and conservation organisations (including Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and the SAVE campaign) have actively opposed the proposal, emphasising potential harm to the Trent Valley landscape, Attenborough Nature Reserve wildlife habitats across the river, and the tranquillity of footpaths and open countryside.
Public response
The proposals have attracted significant public opposition since first emerging in 2021. More than 180 formal objections were submitted during consultation, with residents and campaign groups expressing concerns about traffic, loss of tranquillity, visual harm and damage to wildlife habitats.
Opponents argue that restoration plans cannot fully compensate for more than a decade of quarrying activity in open countryside close to a village.
Policy context
While the site is identified in the Nottinghamshire Minerals Local Plan as having mineral potential, objectors stress that allocation does not guarantee approval and that Green Belt policy and environmental protections must still carry substantial weight.
What happens next
Nottinghamshire County Council will make the final decision on 16 December, following years of debate, consultation and objection. The outcome will be closely watched locally, given the scheme’s long history and the scale of concern within Barton-in-Fabis and the wider Rushcliffe area.
•  Decision on huge Rushcliffe quarry near village expected next week
